New A-b-e Airline Releases Its Schedule To Newark

January 21, 1986|by DAN PEARSON, The Morning Call

New York Air Connection yesterday released the schedule of four flights, Monday through Friday, that it will offer between A-B-E Airport and Newark International Airport beginning Feb. 9. The commuter flight on a twin-engine propjet plane will take 35 minutes and the one-way fare will be $47.

Direct Newark flights from Allentown have not been available since 1976, when Suburban Airlines terminated the Newark service it began in 1967 as Reading Airlines. Suburban dropped the service because it became unprofitable.

NYA Connection is owned by Colgan Airways of Manassas, Va., and affiliated with New York Air, one of the larger low-fare carriers operating out of Newark. It will introduce its Newark service with the 5 p.m. departure from A- B-E Airport on Sunday, Feb. 9. The return flight will leave Newark at 6:35 p.m. and arrive in Allentown at 7:05 p.m..

There will be only one flight in each direction on Sundays and no service initially on Saturdays. But, during the week, there will be a full schedule.

The Monday through Friday departures from A-B-E are 6:40 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 2:40 p.m. and 5 p.m. Departures from Newark will be at 8:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:35 p.m.

Although NYA Connection has a new counter in the north end of the main A- B-E terminal, where tickets can be purchased and reservations made, Colgan prefers that the public obtain scheduling information and make reservations by calling the toll-free number (800) 221-9300.

Pat Capone, station manager at A-B-E, said that Colgan soon will be promoting "through fares" with New York Air that will enable Lehigh Valley travelers to use the commuter service to Newark and take advantage of New York Air's discounted fares. Capone reported that Colgan is negotiating with Continental Airlines, which also operates from Newark, for discounted "joint fares" that would be lower than full coach prices. The Continental fares should be ready for insertion into the computer in early February.

Capone said that NYA Connection's through and joint fares should "meet or beat" super-saver and other deep-discounted fares currently available from other airlines operating at A-B-E. Passengers using the new commuter service also can make their own arrangements with discount airlines once they arrive at Newark.

For the commuter flights to Newark, NYA Connection intends to use the Shorts 330 overhead-wing aircraft that seats 30 passengers and has a crew of two pilots and a flight attendant. A snack and beverages will be served on the flight, which is only about 10 minutes shorter than Colgan's daily flights to Washington National Airport.

On occasions, NYA Connection will use a 19-passenger Beechcraft plane on the Newark run. The Shorts and Beechcraft are pressurized for higher altitudes and passenger comfort.

Since NYA Connection calls itself the "Airline of the Big Apple," and Allentown is sometimes referred to as "The Little Apple," Capone said that Colgan is looking at the Allentown - Newark run as "The Apple to Apple Service."

To promote the new Newark service in the beginning, Colgan will provide passengers with coffee and a choice of newspapers in its departure lounge. Said Capone, "We at New York Air Connection feel that A-B-E needs a fresh, new airline to offer low fares and good service."